Guide to the Eugene Carson Blake Records

Descriptive Summary

Title

Eugene Carson Blake Records

Inclusive Dates

1935-1966

Call Number

RG 95

Creator(s)

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Office of the Stated Clerk.

Quantity

24.00 cubic feet

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

Eugene Carson Blake was born in St. Louis on November 7, 1906. He graduated from Princeton University in 1928 and spent the following year teaching English in Forman College, Lahore, India (now Pakistan). He returned to his studies in 1929, spending a year at New College, Edinburgh, Scotland and two years at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he received a Th.B. in 1932. Blake married Valina Gillespie in 1929. He served as pastor of churches in New York City, Albany, and Pasadena, CA from 1932-51. In 1951 he was elected Stated Clerk of the General Assembly (PCUSA), a post he held until 1958. In 1958 the PCUSA became the UPCUSA, and Blake was elected Stated Clerk of the UPCUSA General Assembly; he served until 1966. From 1954-57 he served as president of the National Council of Churches, and in 1966 he became general secretary to the World Council of Churches, from which he retired in 1972.

Dr. Blake is noted for his contributions to the 1967 confessional revision in the Presbyterian Church, to the civil rights movement, to church union efforts, for his leadership in the WCC's Programme to Combat Racism, and to the WCC's world development activities.

Collection Overview

Record Group 95 documents Dr. Blake's tenure as Stated Clerk of the PCUSA from 1951-58 and of the UPCUSA from 1958-66. The records contain correspondence, minutes, reports, memoranda--all of Blake's official files from his clerkships. The files relate to various commissions, committees, Presbyterian organizations, and religious leaders. There are also two cubic feet of Blake's sermons, addresses, articles and correspondence from 1935-51.

Organization and Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Record Group 3 contains correspondence and additional writings of Blake from 1951-66; Record Group 121 contains decision letters dating from 1949-58 and Stated Clerk's subject files from 1951-66, including 2.5 cubic feet of material on the World Council of Churches.

Collection processed and container list prepared: April 1973
Jane Ramsay, Assistant Records Researcher

Notes added to finding aid: April 1991
Stephanie Muntone, Processing Archivist

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Personal Name Subject

Blake, Eugene Carson, 1906-1985.

Genre-form

Speeches. aat

Sermons. aat

Correspondence. aat

Personal Added Name

Blake, Eugene Carson, 1906-1985.

Corporate Added Name

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Office of the Stated Clerk.

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. General Assembly. Stated Clerk (1952-1958 : Blake)

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. General Assembly. Stated Clerk (1958-1966 : Blake)

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

World Alliance of Reformed Churches (Presbyterian and Congregational)

World Council of Churches.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

1	1a	Finding Aid to Record Group 95
	1-13	Sermons, 1935-47

2	1-4	Sermons, 1948-51
	5-6	Addresses and Articles
	7-8	Sermons, addresses and articles (miscellaneous)

3	1	Correspondence, Pre-Theological Students--re: deferment
		from military service, 1946-55
	2	Other denominations, 1950-53
	3	Committee on Book of Common Worship, 1950-57
	4	Laymen suggested for General Assembly special committees, 1951
	5	Dr. Harcus, General Secretary, Presbyterian Church of
		England: correspondence and itinerary, U.S. visit, 1951-52
	6	Correspondence re expenses of representatives on
		National Council of Churches, 1951-52
	7	Controversy: Ambassador to Vatican, 1951-52
	8	Advisory Committee on the Office of the General Assembly, 1951-53
	9	Bureau of Church Building and Architecture, 1952
	10	Correspondence A-G, 1952
	11	Correspondence H-L, 1952
	12	Correspondence M-Z, 1952
	13	Committee on Nominations, 1952-53
	14	Biography: Dr. Robert E. Speer, 1952-54
	15	United Presbyterian Foundation, 1953
	16	Lincoln University Centennial Anniversary, 1953

4	1	National Council Presbyterian Men, 1953
	2	Department of Ministerial Relations, 1953
	3	Moderator John A. Mackay, 1953
	4-5	Department of Radio and Television, 1953
	6	Correspondence A-Z, 1953-54
	7	Committee on Nominations, suggestions for membership on Boards and Agencies, 1953-54
	8	Permanent Judicial Commission, 1953-54
	9	Arkansas Comity Situation re Fayetteville Church, 1953-56
	10	Conscientious Objectors, miscellaneous, 1953-54
	11	Transfer of Starke Church to PCUS and financial settlement, 1953-58
	12	Rose Anna Hughes Home, 1953-59
	13	National Council Presbyterian Men, 1954
	14	Dr. Blake's Accident, 1955
	15	Correspondence, 1955
	16	Committee of Nine to Study Executive and Field Service in Synods and Presbyteries, 1955-56
	17	Board of Christian Education, 1955-57
	18	Committee on Federated Churches, 1955-58
	19	Committee on Maintenance of American Freedom, 1955
	20	Transportation Bureau, 1955-59

5	1	Rio-Muni Presbytery re establishing an independent church in Rio-Muni, 1955-60
	2	World Council of Churches, Finance Committee, 1955-60
	3	Railroad Clergy Certificates, 1956
	4	Correspondence, 1956
	5	Conference on Fitness of American Youth, 1956
	6	National Planning Association, 1956-57
	7	Committee on Rewording Shorter Catechism, 1956-58
	8	Committee on Welfare of National Missionaries and their families, 1956-58
	9	Expenses, 1956-60
	10	Monday Morning, 1956-66
	11	Air Travel, 1957
	12	Consultative Conference on Desegregation, 1957
	13	Board of Foreign Missions; including plans for Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, and merger of Boards to form Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1957
	14	United Presbyterian Foundation
	15	General Assembly Correspondence, 1957
	16	Department of History, 1957
	17	Hubbard Press, 1957
	18	Office of Information and Publicity Department, 1957
	19	National Council of Churches, 1957
	20	National Council of Churches, Division of Life and Work, 1957
	21	Board of National Missions, 1957
	22	National Presbyterian Church, 1957
	23	Committee on Nominations, 1957
	24	Publication Department, 1957
	25	Minimum Salaries for Ordained Personnel, Presbyterian Survey, and Committee on Minimum Salaries for Unordained, 1957
	26	Department of Social Education and Action, 1957

6	1	Committee on Administrative Powers of Presbytery, 1957-58
	2	Church World Service--National Council of Churches, 1957-61
	3	Treasurer of the General Assembly, 1957-62
	4	Department of Ministerial Relations, 1957-62
	5	Board of Pensions, 1957-62
	6	Division of Evangelism, 1957-63
	7	National Council of Women's Organizations, 1957-63
	8	Department of Radio and Television, 1957-64
	9	Department of Chaplains and Service Personnel, 1957-65
	10	American Bible Society, 1957-66
	11	Committee on Resettlement Services, 1957-66
	12	Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1958
	13	170th General Assembly, 1958
	14	In Ho Oh, 1958
	15	Other Denominations, 1958
	16	World Council Properties Fund, 1958
	17	World Alliance and North America Area Council, 1958
	18	Special Administrative Commission, 1958-59
	19	Consultation on Church and State, 1958-59
	20	Consultative Conference on Desegregation, 1958-59
	21	Ecumenical Study Committee, 1958-59
	22	Interchurch Organization and Affairs, 1958-59
	23	Railroad Clergy Certificates, 1958-59

7	1	World Alliance of Reformed Churches, 1958-59
	2	World Alliance Statement, 1958-59
	3	Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1959
	4	Rev. Roy P. Strange, representative in Spanish Guinea, 1958-61
	5	Commission On Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1958-62
	6	World Council of Churches, Executive Committee, 1958-62
	7	Commission On Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1959
	8	Committee on Consolidations, 1959
	9	Correspondence, 1959
	10	Conference With Episcopalians, 1959
	11	United Presbyterian Foundation, 1959
	12	171st General Assembly, Indianapolis, Arrangements, 1959
	13	171st General Assembly, Letters re elections to Boards and Agencies, 1959
	14	171st General Assembly, 1959
	15	Department of History, 1959
	16	Fraternal Delegates, 1959
	17	Moderator Arthur Miller, 1959

8	1	National Council of Churches, 1959
	2	National Council of Churches, misc., 1959
	3	Appeal--U.P. Synod of Punjab v. Rev. Nazir Alam, 1959
	4	World Alliance: "Address to our Fellow Christians after 400 Years", 1959
	5	World Alliance, Commission on Civil Liberty, 1959
	6	World Alliance, General Council Meeting, Brazil, 1959
	7	World Alliance, 18th General Council, Brazil - Delegates, 1959
	8	General Commission re Chaplains, 1959-60
	9	Correspondence re Church Extension in the Netherlands, 1959-60
	10	Presbyterian and Reformed Jubilee Called by World Alliance, 1959-60
	11	World Council of Churches: Headquarters Property,1959-60
	12	Committee on a Brief Contemporary Statement of Faith, 1959-61
	13	Ecumenical Church Loan Fund, 1959-61
	14	Division of Interchurch Aid and Service to Refugees, 1959-61
	15	Department of History, 1959-1962
	16	Joint Committee--World Council of Churches and International Missionary Council, 1959-62
	17	National Council, United Church Women, 1959-62
	18	Committee on Popular Meetings (at General Assemblies), 1959-62
	19	World Council of Churches, 1959-62
	20	Stewardship and Promotion, 1959-63
	21	World Council of Churches, U.S. Conference, 1959-63

9	1-3	Air Force and National Council of Churches--Air Force Manual, 1960
	4	Appointments to Committees and Commissions, 1960
	5	Budget and Finance Department, 1960-61
	6	Christian Education, 1960
	7	Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1960
	8	Correspondence, 1960
	9	172nd General Assembly, Cleveland, 1960
	10	172nd General Assembly, Devotional Services, 1960
	11	General Council, 1960
	12	Office of Information, 1960
	13-14	National Council of Churches, 1960
	15	National Council of Churches, Public Interpretation Committee, 1960
	16	Department of Social Education and Action, 1960

10	1	National Presbyterian Church, 1960
	2-3	The Blake Proposal--correspondence, 1960-61
	4-5	Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1960-61
	6	Consultative Conference on Desegregation, 1960-61
	7	National Presbyterian Health and Welfare, 1960-61
	8	World Alliance--Civil and Religious Liberty, 1960-61
	9	World Council of Churches--Finance Committee, 1960-61
	10	National Council of Churches, Committee on Religious Liberty, 1960-62
	11	World Alliance--Civil and Religious Liberty, 1960-62
	12	Consultation on Church and State, 1960-63
	13	Committee on Capital Fund Needs, 1960-63
	14	Long Range Planning Committee, 1960-62
	15	Board of National Missions, 1960-64

11	1	General Secretaries' Conference, 1960-65
	2	Joint Budget Conference, 1960-65
	3	Committee on Salaries and Salary Scales, 1960-65
	4	Theological Seminaries and Council on Theological Education, 1960-66
	5	Blake Proposal on Union--Committee of Nine, 1961
	6	General Commission on Chaplains, 1961
	7	Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1961
	8	Correspondence and Travel Itineraries, 1961-62
	9	Moderator Paul McKelvey, 1961
	10	National Council of Churches, 1961
	11	National Council of Churches, Long Range Planning
	12	National Council of Churches, Policy and Strategy Committee; Life and Work Div.: International Affairs Department, 1961
	13	National Council of Churches, Public Interpretation Committee, 1961
	14	National Council of Churches, Washington Office, 1961
	15	National Presbyterian Church, 1961
	16	Committee on Church Union, 1961
	17	World Council of Churches, Finance Committee, 1961
	18	World Council of Churches, Third Assembly, New Delhi, 1961
	19	Committee on Capital Fund Needs, 1961-62

12	1	National Council of Churches, Div. of Christian Education, General Program Field and Planning Com.m., 1961-62
	2	National Council of Churches, Special Committee on the Cooperation of Men and Women in Church and Society, 1961-62
	3	National Council of Churches, Committee on Relations with Churches in U.S.S.R., 1961-62
	4	National Council of Churches, Dept. of Overseas Churches; Faith and Order Program, 1961-62
	5	Nominations Committee, 1961-62
	6	Committee of Thirty-six re Church Union, 1962
	7	Symposium on Unity, 1961-62
	8	Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1961-63
	9	Interdenominational Center--United Nations, 1961-62
	10	Other Denominations, 1961-62
	11	Personnel Committee, 1961-62
	12	World Relief and Emergency Service Committee, 1961-62
	13	Budget and Finance, 1962
	14	174th General Assembly, Denver, 1962
	15	174th General Assembly, Arrangements (Also invitations from other cities, 1962
	16	174th General Assembly - devotional services, 1962
	17	Letters to and re elected members of Boards and Agencies, 1962
	18	Executive and Field Service Commission, 1962

13	1	The Hungarian Merger, 1962
	2	Moderator Marshal L. Scott, 1962
	3	National Council of Churches, 1962
	4	National Council of Churches, Peace Corps Office, 1962
	5	National Council of Churches, Committee on Public Interpretation, 1962
	6	National Council of Churches, 1962
	7	Interagency Consultation - re Central Personnel Agency, 1962
	8	National Conference on Religion and Race, 1962
	9-10	World Council of Churches, Inter-church Aid, 1962
	11	Church World Service, 1962
	12	Special Committee on Brief Contemporary Statement of Faith, 1962-63
	13	Board of Christian Education, 1962-63
	14	Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1962-63
	15	Ecumenical Church Loan Fund - ECLOF, 1962-63
	16	United Presbyterian Foundation, 1962-63
	17	National Council of Churches, Structure and Function Committee, 1962-63
	18	Committee on Union, 1962-63
	19	World Alliance, 1962-63
	20	Administration Department, 1962-64
	21	Department of Chaplains and Service Personnel, 1962-64
	22	Department of Church and Society, 1962-64
	23	General Council Meetings, 1962-64

14	1	Office of Information 1962-64
	2	Presbyterian Life, 1962-64
	3	Secretary, General Council 1962-1964
	4	Hymn Committee, 1962-1965
	5	Permanent Judicial Commission, 1962-66
	6	Board of Administration - UPCNA, 1963
	7	Budget and Finance, 1963
	8	Correspondence and travel itineraries, 1963
	9	Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, Delegates to NCC and to World Alliance, 1963
	10	Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, Next Meeting, 1963
	11	COEMAR, Next Meeting, 1963
	12	Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1963
	13	175th General Assembly, Des Moines, 1963
	14	175th General Assembly, letters re elections to Boards and Agencies, 1963
	15	General Council Meetings, 1963
	16	History Department, 1963
	17	Hungary--confidential report by Hamza, 1963
	18	Moderator Silas Kessler, 1963

15	1	National Council of Churches, 1963
	2	National Council of Churches - including Dinner in honor of Dr. Ross, 1963
	3	National Council of Churches, Committee on Relations with churches in USSR, 1963
	4	National Council of Churches - Race, 1963
	5	National General Mission Consultative Conference Executive Committee, 1963
	6	Commission on Religion and Race Board of Christian Education, 1963
	7	World Alliance, North American Area, 1963
	8	World Council of Churches, Central Committee, 1963
	9	World Council of Churches- Inter-church Aid - Refugee and World Service 1963
	10	World Council of Churches, U.S. Conference for World Council, 1963
	11	World Council of Churches, 1963
	12	General Commission on Chaplains, 1963-64
	13	Consultation on Church Union, Oberlin and Princeton Meetings, 1963-64
	14	Popular Meetings Committee, 1963-64
	15	National Council of Churches, 1963-64
	16	National Council of Churches, Commission on Religion and Race, 1963-64
	17	National Council United Presbyterian Men 1963-64
	18	Commission on Religion and Race, 1963-64

16	1-13	Correspondence, travel itineraries, and engagements, A-Mc, 1964

17	1-8	Correspondence, travel itineraries, and engagements, M-Z, 1964
	9	Church and State - Bible Reading, 1964
	10	Budget and Finance, 1964
	11	Committee on Capital Fund Needs, 1964
	12	Board of Christian Education, 1964
	13	Christian College of the Pacific, 1964

18	1-2	Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1964
	3	Consultation on Church Union, Executive Com., 1964
	4	Division of Evangelism, 1964
	5	Special Committee on Standardized Exams for Candidates for Ordination, 1964
	6	176th General Assembly, Oklahoma City, 1964
	7	Actions of the 176th General Assembly, 1964
	8	Secretary, General Assembly, 1964
	9	General Secretaries' Conference, 1964
	10	Department of History, 1964
	11	Visit to Hungary, 1964
	12	Inter-church Relations, correspondence and Statement of Policy by 176th General Assembly, 1964
	13	Joint Budget Conference, 1964
	14	Long Range Planning Committee, 1964
	15	Ministerial Relations, 1964
	16	Moderator Elder Hawkins, 1964
	17	National Council of Churches, Com. on Religion and Race, 1964
	18	National Council of Churches, Committee on Relations with churches in USSR, 1964
	19	National Presbyterian Church and Center, 1964 Church Sale Controversy
	20	Nature of the Ministry, 1964
	21	Eligible Negro Ministers, 1964

19	1	Permanent Committee on Nominations, 1964
	2	Princeton Seminary - correspondence, 1964
	3	Com. on Regional Synods, 1964
	4	Rome - Audience with Pope Paul VI, 1964
	5-6	US-South Africa Leader Exchange Program, 1964
	7	Stewardship and Interpretation Dept., 1964
	8	Com. on a Brief Contemporary Statement of Faith, 1964-65
	9	National Council for Civic Responsibility, 1964-65
	10	Consultation on Church Union, 1964-65
	11	Exec. and Field Service Commission, 1964-65
	12	National Com. for Immigration Reform, 1964-65
	13	Exec. Com. - National Mission Consultative Conference, 1964-65
	14	Committee of Nine - re Church Union, 1964-65
	15	Popular Meetings Committee, 1964-65
	16	United Presbyterian Foundation, 1964-65
	17-19	Correspondence A-C, 1965

20	1-12	Correspondence D-Z, 1965
	13	Department of Budget and Finance, 1965
	14	Book of Common Worship, 1965
	15	Committee of Fifteen (to study the Confession of 1967), 1965

21	1	Consultation on Church Union, Executive Committee, 1965
	2-3	Consultation on Church Union, Lexington Meeting, 1965
	4-5	Consultation on Church Union, Special Commission, 1965
	6	Engagements, 1965
	7	Fifty Million Fund, 1965
	8	Sponsors for Fifty Million Fund, 1965
	9	177th General Assembly, 1965
	10	General Council, 1965
	11	Government Consultation, 1965
	12	Hawaii Loa College, 1965
	14	Office of Information, 1965
	15	Long Range Planning 1965
	16	Department of Ministerial Relations, 1965
	17	Moderator William P. Thomson, 1965

22	1-2	National Council of Churches, 1965
	3-4	National Presbyterian Church and Center, 1965
	5-6	Special Committee on the Nature of the Ministry, 1965
	7	Committee on Nominations, 1965
	8	Special Committee on Regional Synods, 1965
	9	International Social Service, 1965
	10-11	South Africa Leader Exchange Program, 1965
	12	Department of Stewardship and Interpretation, 1965
	13	Joint Worship Committee, 1965
	14	National Council of Churches, 1965-66
	15	National Council of United Presbyterian Men 1965
	16	Inter-religious Committee Against Poverty, 1965
	17	National Inter-religious Conference on Peace, 1965-66
	18-19	Personal Correspondence A-B, 1966

23	1-14	Personal Correspondence C-Z, 1966
	15	Christian Education, 1966
	16	Office of Church and Society, 1966
	17-18	Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations, 1966
	19	Office of Economic Opportunity, 1966
	20	Engagements, 1966

24	1-2	178th General Assembly, Boston, 1966
	3	178th General Assembly - letters re election to Boards and Agencies, 1966
	4	Department of History, 1966
	5	National Committee against Housing Discrimination, 1966
	6	Office of Information, 1966
	7	Ministerial Relations Department, 1966
	8	National Council of Churches, 1966
	9	National Missions, 1966
	10	National Presbyterian Church and Center, 1966
	11	Nominations, 1966
	12	Citizens Against Poverty 1966
	13	South Africa Leader Exchange Program, 1966
	14	Biographical materials, clippings, and photos
	15	Essays re rapid social change--Africa

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Guide to the Eugene Carson Blake Records

Creator(s)